Mavis Staples looking for that first Grammy win

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
— AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
/ AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)— AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
/ AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)— AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
/ AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)— AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
/ AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)— AP

In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, singer Mavis Staples is shown at her home in Chicago. Stapes is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won a the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
/ AP

CHICAGO 
Mavis Staples still thinks about the advice that her father, the legendary Pop Staples, gave her about awards shows when she was younger.

"'You all are singing to get your just reward and you'll get your just reward. It's coming for you. So don't worry about these awards,'" she remembers him telling her when the family's act, The Staples Singers, would be nominated for awards.

But this year, she's up for a Grammy in the Best Americana category, and Staples, who has never won the coveted trophy, says she wants to take one home at the Feb. 13 ceremony.

"Sorry Pops, I want to win," says Staples, who is nominated for her Jeff Tweedy-produced 2010 album, "You Are Not Alone" in a category that features Roseanne Cash, Los Lobos, Willie Nelson and Robert Plant.

"But if I don't win it, it will be OK," she adds.

The 71-year-old gospel legend, whose husky voice defines Staples Singers hits like "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself," is on her fourth solo album since 2004's "Have a Little Faith." Before that, she went more than a decade without any new material.

The latest album's genesis came in 2008 when Tweedy and his fellow Wilco members went to see Staples sing at a club on Chicago's North Side. A few weeks later, Tweedy and Staples met at a restaurant near her home on the South Side, not far from the University of Chicago - but not too close either.

"There are college kids up there," she says during an interview with The Associated Press at her home on Chicago's South Side. "I didn't want them to grab the guy."

The pair, along with Staples' sister Yvonne, sat and talked for hours about each other's lives.

"I was sold on him when he was talking family and the way he talked about my father," Staples says. "He loved Pops and he knew all of our stuff. I felt like I knew Jeff Tweedy when I left that restaurant."

Staples had just finished her critically acclaimed album of civil rights songs, "We'll Never Turn Back," produced by Ry Cooder. Turns out Tweedy came along at the perfect time, because Staples had no clue what to do next.

"He said, 'Well we'll come up with something' and that's what he did." Staples says. "I give him the credit."

What Tweedy did was assemble a list that included songs by Pops Staples, traditional gospel hymns and a pair of original songs he wrote for Staples: "You Are Not Alone" and "Only the Lord Knows."

"My skin was moving on my bones at the title, 'You Are Not Alone,'" Staples recalls. "He had those lyrics and I just, I said 'Tweedy this is too beautiful, so beautiful.' My heart, I could see all of what this song would do for people. How it was needed in people's lives. People are going through trying times and they're losing their homes, losing their jobs and this song was so comforting."